Surf trips don’t all have to be the same! Embrace the uncertainty, South Africa calls!
With a coastline as diverse as the people who call it home (The Rainbow Nation!), South Africa is a fantastic alternative to the “go – to” destinations we return to year after year and direct flights from Sydney and Perth are a thing ($1600.00 upwards)!
I may be a little biased being a SAFFA myself, but having travelled the coastline from Cape Town to Mozambique fairly extensively (still only tip of the Iceberg kinda’ stuff!), I can tell you that REAL pay dirt awaits those willing to take the road less travelled! The adventurers! The intrepid!
Everyone knows about J Bay, but what most don’t know is that a trip to the famed right point does not only consist of sessions screaming down a lined up “Supers’ wall. The point alone has 8 distinct sections (you will have a favorite by the time you leave!). There are a variety of ultra-consistent lava reef and beach breaks in the immediate area meaning that Jeffery’s Bay is no one trick show pony. A 30 minute trip south takes you to Seal point and the rugged beach breaks of Cape St Francis or maybe, if you are lucky, a session at the mythical Bruce’s Beauties…
And after a day of mind bending perfection…
$10 steak dinner*! Cheap beer, cheaper wine, “cheap cheap” but definitely not cheap n’ nasty! Watch the setting African sun tip perfect Trestles esque A-frames at “Kitchen’s” (underrated surf spot!), whilst sipping your “insert beverage of choice”- no $25 cocktails here!
No waves?
An hour or so drive takes you to one of the easy viewing game parks in the area. Do you want the see an Elephant?! Or a Rhino? Maybe some buffalo? You can go whale/ dolphin watching (if you haven’t had a close encounter with one of the local Supertubes pods already!). Are you a thrill seeker (of course you are!)?! Bloukrans Bridge Bungy Jump is the highest.. In the world.. and just over an hour away!
So you’ve decided to take the plunge. Great job! But you’re going all the way there, might as well extend your trip by 2 weeks. Maybe a swell run to one of the northern neighbor’s?
Mozambique? Warm blue water, sand bottom point breaks, Portuguese flavor, more cheap beer! Have you seen Strange Rumblings?! Defrost from your J bay chill under a baking African sun, whilst watching another empty line roll down the point unridden.
Africa trips, Hot tips!
Booties for the first few days in JBAY. Cold, heavy feet and mussel encrusted lava rocks don’t make a great combo
Castle Light is the go to Beer in SA but there is a burgeoning craft brew scene! 2M in Mozambique!
If you have a look you WILL find empty waves. With a small surfing population, weekday’s and short drives will find you looking for someone to surf with